What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?

[Spam]

I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. Does anyone have any
suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane?


Also what type of camera is good for this too?

[Frank Whiteley]

On Aug 26, 8:41*pm, Spam > wrote:
> I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any
> suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane?
>
> Also what type of camera is good for this too?

One pilot's solution, read this
http://phoebus.vassel.com/site_page_12346/
then watch his videos.

[[email protected]]

Where you would like to mount it is important.

For external mounts, the ideal system uses a fabricated glass cuff
that is conformal to the chosen surface. The cuff is then taped to
the wing and a ball camera mount mechanically fastened to the cuff.
A crude but highly effective wing/horizontal stab mount can be
fabricated using a block of foam, sandpaper and some high quality duct
tape. The foam is contoured to the stab/wing shape, the block is
taped to the surface and finally, the camera to the foam.
Alternately, a plate of glass, metal, or thin wood can be taped/bonded
to the foam and the camera attached typically via a 1/4-20 screw. This
allows some added flexibility in pointing the camera. A ball mount
can be attached to the block to allow the ultimate in aiming.

Some people use a section of PVC pipe to hold the camera outside the
cockpit in order to to shoot back at the aircraft and pilot(s). Many
dramatic images have been captured this way but the work load in a
single place ship is markedly increased, thus increasing risk.

Internally, the camera can be clamped to the forward carry-through
tube using commercially available mounts such as the RAM series or
similar camera mounts. This allows a 3/4 forward view and is
adjustable on the ground but not in the air without additional
mechanisms and possibly remote viewing screens.

Mechanical Safety issues related to internal mounts include: Being
struck in the head with an XX kg mass traveling at XX km/h should you
crash while it is installed. I have hear that 10 "G"'s is a good
number for items in the cockpit. Should the camera become unattached,
it must not be able to jam controls or jam /break the canopy. These
issues suggest that a sturdy (10+ "G") secondary leash also be
attached.

Mechanical safety issues related to external mounts include: aft cg
conditions, reduced aerodynamic control effectiveness, lateral
instability due to the camera's mass on one wing, damage to the
primary structure or controls should the camera become partially
unattached from the surface and repeatedly impact the glider, and
jamming of flight controls for the same reason.

Hand-held video by a single pilot is the worst safety-wise as it
combines the worst of all possibilities: The camera is in the field
of view, potentially obstructing vision and especially binocular
vision, and the camera is loose, representing a projectile in the
cockpit that should (must?) be secured.

Be aware that attaching an object to the exterior of the glider will
likely invalidate your airworthiness cert. and thus your insurance
coverage, especially if the ship is standard airworthiness.

Please recognize that aerial photography is incredibly demanding of
the pilot's attention and thus adds a significant workload. This is
especially true if the pilot is shooting video, thermaling in
proximity to other ships or terrain, and providing on-camera
narration. Something is definitely going to suffer, and humans being
what they are, image capture will inevitably take precedence over
pilotage, terrain avoidance, and traffic scans.

Based on extensive personal experience and the multitude of crashes
the military has experienced doing air-to-air photography, I believe
that such undertakings are inherently very dangerous and require a
good plan, a briefing for normal and emergency conditions, and
experienced heads-up pilots, especially if 2 single-place ships are
involved, and the camera is being actively operated by the pilot. In
this condition, flying the aircraft must be second nature.

Unilaterally performing aerial photography of another ship without all
of the above is very poor form and especially dangerous.

Finally, try not to record FAR violations and poor pilotage (e.g.,
hand-held video showing the pilot not scanning for traffic or
departing controlled flight are the wrotst I have observed to date),
especially if you plan to put it up on the Web. Footage on the Web
should be considered a permanent record and it will be used with
maximum prejudice against those involved as well as against the
greater soaring community by the FAA, the insurance carrier, the
grieving widows, and the public should something go poorly in the
future. Lots of this already exists and we should avoid adding
more.

Be Safe and get some good images - but please do it in that order!

[MP]

On Aug 26, 9:41*pm, Spam > wrote:
> I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any
> suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane?
>
> Also what type of camera is good for this too?

i mount with a tripod screw above the panel pointed out the window.
you can swivel back for under the wing footage or to capture your
pretty mug. Any modern video camera will do the trick - the HD is
great quality

the method above I've found to be simple and safe - you turn the
camera on and then forget about it so you can fly the airplane. any
interaction with the camera is same movements of messing with anything
on your panel so natural...And the video is filming where you are
aiming. I usually end up with about 2 hours of crap video out of which
I'll get about 10 minutes of good stuff.

[Rob.Russell]

On Aug 27, 12:29*am, " > wrote:

> Be aware that attaching an object to the exterior of the glider will
> likely invalidate your airworthiness cert. and thus your insurance
> coverage, especially if the ship is standard airworthiness.

I found the following picture on flickr this week that I think
illustrates your point quite well:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83371935@N00/3852830788/

Sure, he got some great pictures with that rig, but to call it
frightening would be an understatement.

[Nine Bravo Ground]

On Aug 27, 3:04*am, MP > wrote:
> On Aug 26, 9:41*pm, Spam > wrote:
>
> > I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any
> > suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane?
>
> > Also what type of camera is good for this too?
>
> i mount with a tripod screw above the panel pointed out the window.
> you can swivel back for under the wing footage or to capture your
> pretty mug. *Any modern video camera will do the trick - the HD is
> great quality
>
> the method above I've found to be simple and safe - you turn the
> camera on and then forget about it so you can fly the airplane. *any
> interaction with the camera is same movements of messing with anything
> on your panel so natural...And the video is filming where you are
> aiming. I usually end up with about 2 hours of crap video out of which
> I'll get about 10 minutes of good stuff.

I bought a set of these:

http://www.stickypod.com/

Keep in mind that suction cup mounts are not designed to handle the
changes in pressure associated with altitude changes so you need lot
of gaffer's tape (duct tape leaves residue). The extension tube and
ball joint hardware works great.

Recently, I fabricated a thin steel plate with a 1/4-20 bolt through
it to attach camera mounting hardware then attached thick felt to the
bottom to avoid scratches. All materials are available at hardware
stores. The steel is thin enough that it can conform to the surface of
a wing or tail - haven't tried the nose cone yet. With more effort
you can make custom cuffs shaped to the exact contour where you want
to mount, but that's more work.

[Bob Kuykendall]

On Aug 26, 7:41*pm, Spam > wrote:

> Subject: What's the easiest way to mount a camera on a sailplane?

Sylvester Stallone's patented Gabe Walker bolt gun.

[Phil]

On Aug 27, 2:41*pm, Spam > wrote:
> I'm wanting to video tape some of my flights. *Does anyone have any
> suggestions on how to mount a video camera on a sailplane?
>
> Also what type of camera is good for this too?

I bought one of these

http://www.goprocamera.com/index.php?area=2&productid=2

But having used it a little I think the wide angle is a bit much and
would have been better with the normal lens.

The mounts are really good, and the camera looks indestructable.

--
Philip Plane

[[email protected][_2_]]

Find some gaffers tape. Gaffers tape is cloth backed like duct tape,
but the glue rarely leaves a residue. Holds great, once you've used
the stuff you will keep a roll around for other things as well. Good
stuff.
Flying and filming has killed lots of people. When you start flying
with a camera take notice of the little uncommon errors you make. The
little things are warnings that all is not what it appears.

[Spam]

On Aug 27, 10:40*pm, " >
wrote:
> Find some gaffers tape. *Gaffers tape is cloth backed like duct tape,
> but the glue rarely leaves a residue. *Holds great, once you've used
> the stuff you will keep a roll around for other things as well. *Good
> stuff.
> Flying and filming has killed lots of people. *When you start flying
> with a camera take notice of the little uncommon errors you make. *The
> little things are warnings that all is not what it appears.


I pulled out my camcorder on tow last week. I really wish I didn't.

That was the first....and the last.

[Tim Taylor]

On Aug 27, 6:53*am, "Rob.Russell" > wrote:
> On Aug 27, 12:29*am, " > wrote:
>
> > Be aware that attaching an object to the exterior of the glider will
> > likely invalidate your airworthiness cert. and thus your insurance
> > coverage, especially if the ship is standard airworthiness.
>
> I found the following picture on flickr this week that I think
> illustrates your point quite well:
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/83371935@N00/3852830788/
>
> Sure, he got some great pictures with that rig, but to call it
> frightening would be an understatement.

He does have some the best photos I've seen. I put the one with the
blue tents as my computer background. Very similar to Chris Woods
photo for the Hilton cup years ago.

[tstock]

> I pulled out my camcorder on tow last week. *I really wish I didn't.
>
> That was the first....and the last.

I tried the same thing... got it about half way out of my pocket when
I started to over correct on tow position... I thought "#1 fly the
plane" and I quickly aborted the camera idea. Next time I'll just
mount it somewhere, turn it on, and forget about it.